Robin van Persie scored his first goal in the new Premier League season with an acrobatic volley in Manchester United's 4-1 win at Swansea City on Saturday.

Manchester United player Robin van Persie scores the opening goal against Swansea

Photo: Getty Images

In the teeming rain at the Liberty Stadium, the home side had threatened to make a nuisance of themselves in inclement conditions.

The match was on a knife-edge until van Persie conjured something out of nothing to open the scoring just after the half hour.

Ryan Giggs floated a high ball into the box where van Persie evaded the attentions of the home defence and was allowed to drift into space behind the centre-halves.

After instantly and expertly controlling the ball onto his chest, the Dutchman smashed it home acrobatically with his weaker right foot.

Danny Welbeck added a second two minutes later before van Persie made it 3-0 with a strike from distance in the 72nd minute.

Swansea's record signing Wilfried Bony pulled one goal back eight minutes from time but the contest itself was already over, and Welbeck eclipsed last season's meagre tally in stoppage time with a wonderful chipped finish.

"My first goal came from a great pass from Giggsy," van Persie told Sky Sports.

"I felt at the time that my touch was a little heavy so I had to really go for it and take it as high as possible."

United boss David Moyes added: "I think his foot was seven feet high in the air when he hit it. It was great athleticism and a good pass by Ryan that got us in."